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A new report from the City Auditor's office reveals that Syracuse has completed only 11% of the 88 projects outlined in its 2012 bike plan. The report, titled "Incomplete Streets," indicates that 70% of the projects have not yet started, despite the city's commitment to becoming more bicycle-friendly.
Currently, Syracuse has 43 miles of bike infrastructure, which includes dedicated paths, lanes, and streets marked to indicate that bicycles can share the road with vehicles. However, the city auditor, Alexander Marion, believes there is still considerable work to be done. "We are a multi-mobile transportation city, and so with that, we need to have the transportation infrastructure," Marion said to CNY Central.
The report also recommends updates to traffic codes, improved restoration after construction, and better snow removal. It also suggests enacting a new violation for blocking a bike lane.
The slow progress on the bike plan is attributed to the high cost of materials, which has made it difficult to execute the projects. Despite the challenges, city leaders remain committed to improving the city's bike infrastructure.